Marcus Aurelius lectures me over a coffee
A chat about virtue and "indifferents" in Product Management
I sit at a corner table in a Roman cafeteria. My eyes dart between my laptop screen and the door. Today, I am meeting someone extraordinary, a figure from another era, a mentor I could only dream of conversing with.
Suddenly, the door swings open, and in walks a figure exuding an air of calm authority. Dressed in minimalist, Silicon Valley CEO chic—reminiscent of Steve Jobs but with an ancient wisdom in his eyes—Marcus Aurelius steps into the modern world—my heart skips a beat.
Ángel, the Stoic Product Manager: (Rising, almost knocking over my latte in excitement) Marcus! Wow, you look... less marble, more... startup chic?
Marcus Aurelius: (Smiling warmly) Adapting to the times is essential, even for a Stoic. Now, I hear you've been trying to marry my philosophies with the frenetic world of Product Management?
Ángel: Yep, that’s the hustle. But between us, sometimes it feels like I'm using Stoicism to mix quantum physics with catfish hunting. It’s... well, it’s kinda fun, actually.
Marcus: (With a playful glint) Stoicism, the ultimate productivity hack? I suppose Zeno never saw that coming. But tell me, do you think Stoicism is just about enduring the unendurable, like another meeting about meetings?
Ángel: (Grinning) Well, it’s tempting to think so. But here's the kicker: isn't Stoicism a bit... deprecated? I mean, it's solid stuff, but our world spins a bit faster these days. Many days I can barely think of myself as a Stoic person.
Marcus: A world that spins faster, yet the human heart beats the same. Stoicism isn’t about the pace of life but the quality of our actions within it. How do your Sprints measure up to that?
Ángel: We aim for virtue in every PRD, but sometimes it’s more about shipping features on time. Virtue’s great and all, but it doesn’t exactly code itself into existence, does it?
Marcus: True, the code of virtue is not written in Python. Yet, consider this: it’s not the deadlines or the releases that define you but how you lead your team through the challenges. Stoicism offers a compass through the chaos, not an escape from it.
Ángel: Sure, but can Stoicism keep up with the Agile Manifesto? It’s like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, with a philosophy book for a hammer.
Marcus: Agile, scrum, sprints... merely names for me (waves a lazy hand, as if swatting away a fly). Stoicism is the mindset that allows you to navigate any job with integrity and resilience. It’s not about keeping up with anything of that, but about moving forward with purpose.
Ángel: Got it. So, you’re saying Stoicism is less about enduring the hardships of the job and more about enjoying the ride, bumps and all?
Marcus: That’s not what I said, but fine. And as for enjoying the ride... (He takes a sip of his expresso doppio, grimacing playfully) I must say, this modern nectar is such a poison. I do miss the robust and spicy wine of Hispania.
Ángel: (Laughing) Well, Marcus, consider it the Stoic test of today—enduring the bitterness of coffee for the joy of delivering a bitter lesson!
Marcus: (Setting down the cup, his demeanor shifts to a more serious tone) By the way, I've noticed a particular topic in your discourse that warrants attention—”preferred indifferents” in the realm of Product Management.
Ángel: (Leaning in, intrigued) Go on?
Marcus: (Deep in thought) In your Substack newsletters, you've discussed “preferred indifferents” as mere tools for achieving professional milestones. Yet, this somewhat misses the mark. According to Stoic way, the preferred indifferents aren't about leveraging external conditions for personal gain but about understanding their place in our pursuit of virtue.
Ángel: (Nodding) That was deep, man. But I’m not sure if I got it… Anyways, what I said is that preferred indifferents are things that shouldn’t define our happiness—like hitting the quarterly OKRs—and yet, they should feel like a nice-to-have emotion from a Stoic perspective.
Marcus: Yes, but that definition misses the point: it’s all about staying balanced amid life’s ups and downs. And some of those “ups” are just preferred indifferents.
Ángel: (Frowning) So, I've been skimming the surface?
Marcus: Precisely. It's essential to convey that these indifferents, while they can make our journey more comfortable, should not dictate the direction nor the quality of our journey. The true Stoic finds contentment in virtue itself irrespective of external successes or failures. This is a nuance I hope you'll explore more deeply.
Ángel: (Reflecting) Will do… In fact, I am talking about it verbatim in my newsletter. To be frank, it's a bit weird since this conversation is already a post, so the readers are reading about it as we speak.
(Marcus Aurelius and I turn our heads towards you at once, fixing you with a smiley gaze)
Marcus: (With a chuckle) Okay, just ensure your readers grasp the essence—Stoicism as a guide to navigating life's challenges with virtue, not as a mere trick for bypassing them or just having a great time at work.
Ángel: Absolutely. Thanks for the hint, master!
Marcus: (Glancing at his smartwatch) Alas, I must depart. I've an appointment to indulge in a less… stoic endeavor—I'm skydiving today.
Ángel: Well, Marcus, I guess even ancient Emperors enjoy a jolt to the system now and then. Have fun, man!
(As Marcus Aurelius exits the coffee shop, blending back into the fabric of the 21st century, I sit back, inspired by the new perspective — Is this feeling the virtue of wisdom, or yet another preferred indifferent? Whatever. I finish my coffee and close the laptop.)